BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - Germany's vaccination authorityhas approved the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on theover-65s, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that the Permanent Vaccination authorityrecommended extending to the maximum 12 weeks the period betweenreceiving the first and second doses of the vaccine.

"This is good news for older people who are waiting for avaccine. They can now be vaccinated more quickly," the ministrysaid. "We will shortly issue a regulation implementing bothrecommendations."

(Reporting by Thomas EscrittEditing by Riham Alkousaa) ((thomas.escritt@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2201 33579 ;))